55 minutes ago US confident Gaza ceasefire will start on Sunday – despite Netanyahu delaying cabinet vote to sign it off

Israeli cabinet now expected to meet on Friday to sign-off truce – after Israeli PM accuses Hamas of backtracking on agreement

Politics

1 hour ago Rudy Giuliani fails to show for trial to allocate property in defamation case

Trial, to decide if he has to turn over Florida condo and World Series rings for $148.1 defamation award, was delayedRudy Giuliani’s trial over whether he must turn over his Florida condo and other prized possessions to former Georgia election workers whom he defamed was delayed on Thursday after the former New York City mayor failed to show up in court.A jury ordered the former New York City mayor to pay $148.1m to Ruby Freeman and her daughter Shaye Moss in 2023 after Giuliani falsely accused the women of attempting to steal the 2020 presidential election in Georgia. Continue reading...

Society

3 hours ago Gaza deal should benefit Netanyahu in short term, but he is critically exposed

Israeli PM must appease his coalition to avoid fresh elections, as well as reckoning with unpredictable TrumpMiddle East crisis – live updatesThe nature of Israel’s febrile coalition politics has long favoured theatrics. The standing and psychology of its prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, adds a further element of panic and cynical calculation.All those characteristics were in evidence as Israel and Hamas edged towards a ceasefire deal, particularly in Netanyahu’s struggle to triangulate his portrayal of an agreement that has the potential to damage him politically. Continue reading...

Economics

36 minutes ago Manchester United vs Southampton LIVE! Premier League match stream, latest team news, lineups, TV, prediction

Man Utd must back up good recent results against the league’s whipping boys

Sport

42 minutes ago More than 80 Palestinians killed by Israeli strikes since ceasefire announcement, Gaza civil defence agency says – live

US secretary of state Antony Blinken says he is ‘confident’ ceasefire will happen; Israeli cabinet to convene on Friday morning to ratify the dealThe devastating impact of 15 months of war on GazaHow Trump loomed over Gaza ceasefire negotiationsKey mediator Qatar said that 33 hostages held by Hamas in Gaza would be released in the first stage of a ceasefire deal aimed at ending the war in the Palestinian territory.Israel earlier said it would release about 1,000 Palestinian prisoners in the first stage of a Gaza truce agreement, Israeli and Palestinian sources reported Tuesday. Continue reading...

Events

1 hour ago Plans for Bible reading and Latin in Italian schools criticised as ‘retrograde’

Education minister reveals revamp of national curriculum guidelines and says children must ‘learn to write better’Bible reading, Latin and learning poetry by heart could return to Italian primary and middle schools as part of a revamp of national curriculum guidelines criticised as “retrograde” and “nostalgic”.The education minister, Giuseppe Valditara, unveiled the guidelines, which predominantly affect children aged three to 14 and are expected to take effect from the 2026/2027 school year, in an interview with the rightwing newspaper, Il Giornale, saying that children must discover “a taste for reading” and “learn to write better”. Continue reading...

Culture

11 hours ago Jeff Bezos’s Blue Origin rocket blasts off in challenge to Elon Musk’s SpaceX

Launch of Amazon founder’s New Glenn craft on second attempt ramps up rivalry between tech billionairesBlue Origin’s huge New Glenn rocket has blasted off from Florida on its first mission to space, an inaugural step into Earth’s orbit for Jeff Bezos’s space company as it aims to rival Elon Musk’s SpaceX in the satellite launch business.Thirty storeys high with a reusable first stage filled with liquid oxygen and methane, New Glenn launched at about 2am ET (0700 GMT) from Blue Origin’s launchpad at the Cape Canaveral Space Force station under cloudy skies on its second attempt this week. Continue reading...

Technology

3 hours ago John Swinney apologises to patients after damning report on overcrowding in Scots hospitals

The First Minister is under pressure as Scotland's struggling NHS endures a tough winter season with demand for services soaring.

Science

9 hours ago Road to the Oscars 2025: Our league table to predict who are our favourites to win at this year’s ceremony

With the road to the Oscars underway, follow our league tables to find out who could win big at the 97th event 🏆

Transport

61 minutes ago How do you say lmaoooo in Mandarin? Americans flock to Chinese TikTok alternative RedNote

Despite security concerns, Americans are flooding the app, where Chinese users are welcoming them with open arms – and Luigi Mangione memesCute cats. Fit checks. Travel vlogs. Luigi Mangione latte art. Americans who downloaded RedNote saw it all this week, as they fled to the Chinese social media app in advance of an imminent (or not ) TikTok ban.English language content has flooded RedNote, whose default language is Mandarin, with Americans posting introductions to themselves and kicking off cross-cultural discussions: How much do you pay for groceries? What Chinese slang do I need to know? Do you have any opinions about the state of Ohio? Continue reading...

Politics

2 hours ago Sibling rivalry: parents favour older children and daughters, study finds

International research also reveals conscientious or agreeable children are likely to receive preferential treatmentAs Philip Larkin once noted, your mum and dad have a lasting effect on you. Now, researchers have revealed which siblings in a family are more likely to be favoured: it is bad news for sons.Researchers have found daughters, older children and those who are more conscientious or agreeable are likely to receive preferential treatment. Continue reading...

Society

4 hours ago Rihanna's £7 lingerie gives women confidence 'no matter their size or age'

Rihanna's Savage x Fenty has just dropped its Valentine's Day collection and it's every bit as fabulous as you'd expect with pretty options for all sizes

Economics

56 minutes ago Spanish FA apologises after Mallorca players’ families harassed in Jeddah

Fans and players’ partners upset by groping and pushingRFEF says sorry but still plans more Super Cups in SaudiThe president of the Spanish football federation (RFEF) has apologised to Real Mallorca supporters six days after they were harassed at the Super Cup semi-final in Jeddah, with the Balearic government inviting him to reconsider the decision to hold the tournament in Saudi Arabia.At the end of their 3-0 defeat by Real Madrid last Thursday, players’ families and Mallorca fans who had travelled to the game alleged they were surrounded and subjected to abuse from local fans supporting Real Madrid on their way out of the King Abdullah stadium. Some female supporters are said to have been sexually harassed. The wife of the midfielder Dani Rodríguez, Cristina Palavra, described moments of “genuine panic” and denounced a lack of protection. Continue reading...

Sport

48 minutes ago LA fires live updates: 38 people still missing, say officials as firefighters report gains against massive wildfires

Improved conditions should help fire crews and allow residents to return to their neighborhoodsEasing of extreme winds expected to strengthen efforts to put out blazesAs officials answered reporters’ questions, Los Angeles County Fire Chief Anthony Marrone, said that it is still unsafe for people to return to their homes, even for those who want to view the conditions of their houses for even 15 minutes.“We just don’t want anybody to come in and for it to not be safe,” he said. Continue reading...

Events

5 hours ago Netflix's top new show of 2025 slammed for 'unnecessary' ending which ruins '10/10' series

Fans are divided over the bleak conclusion to a hit new Netflix series

Culture

6 hours ago A giant US hospital chain says it’s leading the fight against medical debt. Not all patients agree

Many patients say they were harmed by Advocate Health’s billing and collection practices – even as the health system has canceled thousands of liens against patients’ homesAdvocate Health, one of America’s largest hospital chains, says it is working hard to confront one of the biggest problems in US healthcare today – promoting itself as “a leader in the effort to solve the nation’s medical debt crisis”.The non-profit hospital system says it has revamped its billing and collection practices and boosted the number of patients who qualify for charity care. In September 2024, it announced it would take the “bold step” of canceling thousands of debt judgments held as liens against patients’ homes in multiple states, including North Carolina, where the fast-growing chain is headquartered. Continue reading...

Science

12 hours ago Travel experts share top holiday destinations for 2025 with flights direct from Manchester Airport

It's time to get planning your next holiday

Transport

65 minutes ago Russian diplomats accessed private area of UK parliament in security breach

Exclusive: MPs warned not to invite Russian diplomats to parliament after incident said to have alarmed ministersRussian diplomats accessed a private area of parliament in a major security breach just before Christmas that has alarmed security officials and prompted private warnings from the speakers of both houses, the Guardian understands.The small group of diplomats joined a public tour of the Houses of Parliament and then broke off to enter a part of the House of Lords that was out of bounds, before they were found by security and thrown out. Continue reading...

Politics

2 hours ago LA fires live updates: California weather eases up as firefighters report gains against massive wildfires

Improved conditions should help fire crews and allow residents to return to their neighborhoodsEasing of extreme winds expected to strengthen efforts to put out blazesMark Pestrella, Los Angeles County Public Works director, said that in the event of major rain, “we do expect that all of the street areas and all the communities will be impacted by debris flows that could be hazardous to human health.”He warned that “we do expect the window to open for rain in the later part of this month.” Continue reading...

Society

74 minutes ago Danielle Collins thanks ‘super drunk’ booing fans for spurring her to victory

The American faced a boisterous crowd in her win over local hope Destanee Aiava but says ‘energy is a good thing’On a day of a new attendance record at Melbourne Park, the world No 11, Danielle Collins, was booed and jeered in her win over local hope Destanee Aiava, the latest intervention at the Australian Open from boisterous and often intoxicated crowds in a sport known for its civility.The treatment appeared to affect the American, who shouted “shut up” to one fan during her tense 7-6 (4), 4-6, 6-2 victory, even blowing kisses to the stands and turning and slapping her bottom in post-match victory taunts. Continue reading...

Sport

55 minutes ago In Ange we trust? Why Spurs should risk potential failure and back Postecoglou | Max Rushden

Critics misunderstand the Australian’s past achievements and would be better off directing their ire at Daniel LevyIn the buildup to the north London derby the former Tottenham goalkeeper Paul Robinson repeated a line that almost every pundit/journalist/fan has used this season: “With Spurs, you don’t know what you’re going go get.” The trouble is it feels increasingly – especially in the league – that you know exactly what you’re going to get.Wednesday night appeared entirely predictable. Watching two great young prospects, Djed Spence and Archie Gray, play the ball to each other, slowly but surely progressing it backwards towards their own corner flag before giving away possession/a throw/a corner with almost no other options, seemed like a very limited and dispiriting choose your own adventure. Continue reading...

Events

8 hours ago Africa has no shortage of celebrated writers – so why is it so hard for African readers to get hold of their books?

Across the continent books can be expensive and libraries scarce. But growing numbers of tech innovators and independent publishers are working to make African literature available and affordableTsitsi Dangarembga’s Nervous Conditions, a novel about growing up in colonial Zimbabwe, is one of the most important works of 20th-century African literature and features on university curricula across the UK. British students can order a used copy for less than £3.But there is one place readers struggle to find it: Harare, the capital of Zimbabwe and Dangeremba’s home town, even though it is published in paperback across the border in South Africa. “It’s very, very difficult to find my books anywhere in Zimbabwe,” says Dangarembga. Continue reading...

Culture

13 hours ago Archaeologists uncover Roman ‘service station’ during roadworks in Gloucester

The mutatio, on Ermin Street linking Silchester and Gloucester, would have provided a place for travellers to rest or change horsesAt Gloucester services on the M5, travellers are resting and refuelling, taking a break from the demands of the road.Just a few miles east, scores of archaeologists are completing a two-year project that has unearthed a forerunner of the site, a 2,000-year-old Roman take on the service station. Continue reading...

Transport

74 minutes ago Neil Robertson in bullish Mark Allen call as snooker ace predicts duo he expects to make Masters final

The Thunder from Down Under couldn't repeat his heroics from the first round at Alexandra Palace as he exited the tournament

Politics

3 hours ago Interior secretary nominee Burgum to back expanded oil and gas drilling on public lands – live

Trump’s nominee to lead the interior department will tell senators that he supports expanding drilling on public lands, a reversal from Biden’s policy In his final days in office, Joe Biden is expected to outline steps to better protect the United States from hackers linked to rivals like Russia and China, the Guardian’s Joseph Gedeon reports:The Biden administration is making a final push to fortify America’s cyber defenses against mounting threats from China and Russia, issuing a sweeping cybersecurity executive order just days before leaving office that aims to tackle vulnerabilities from outer space to consumer electronics. Continue reading...

Society

5 hours ago February 2025 payment dates for benefits and pensions as DWP cuts rumoured

All the essential cost of living information you need

Economics

3 hours ago Football Daily | Spurs live down to underdog billing as Arsenal paint town red

Sign up now! Sign up now! Sign up now? Sign up now!Since comfortably beating Aston Villa at the start of November, Tottenham Hotspur have won only two of the 11 Premier League matches they’ve contested. Well, played in or at least turned up for. Indeed, a good lawyer might argue that technically they haven’t really won any because one of the aforementioned victories came against peak b@nter era Manchester City, while not even Spurs were capable of doing anything other than swat the current Southampton rabble aside, a feat that is not so much something to be proud of, but more the equivalent of helping yourself to the pennies covering a dead man’s eyes. Having taken just eight points from their previous 10 games, Ange Postecoglou’s knack-depleted team went into Wednesday night’s north London derby as firm underdogs and duly lived down to their billing.I would never dare doubt the accuracy and reliability of statistics from Big Website, but some of the match stats from the Holsten Pil...

Sport

91 minutes ago Adopted wild boar Rillette can stay with her owner, French court rules

Authorities had threatened to remove and even euthanise the animal farmer Elodie Cappe had taken in as a pigletA wild boar adopted by a French horse breeder can remain with her owner, a court has ruled, after authorities’ threats to remove and even euthanise her triggered a storm of protest.Found as a tiny piglet near rubbish bins outside a horse farm in Chaource, central France, in April 2023, Rillette has grown into a large sow who runs around with the horses and dogs on the farm. Continue reading...

Events

13 hours ago ‘I didn’t sleep for days’: readers on the TV shows that went way too far

From fish and chip shop-induced trauma to programmes packed with relentless death and gore, here are the television moments that had you reaching for the remote‘Just too horrifying’There are two specific scenes that have forced me to stop watching a show or movie, both involving infants. One is the final scene from the fourth series of Dexter, where he finds his wife’s murdered body in the bathtub and their young son sitting in a pool of his mother’s blood. As a parent, this scene was just too horrifying for me to contemplate. Cushla, 52, Dunedin, New Zealand Continue reading...

Culture

28 hours ago Motorcycle Road Safety Roadshows visiting five Scottish cities in February 2025

Motorcycle Law Scotland is hosting a series of Motorcycle Road Safety Roadshows in February 2025.

Transport

94 minutes ago US says it is ‘confident’ ceasefire will go into effect on Sunday as Israeli cabinet due to vote on Friday – live

US secretary of state Antony Blinken says he is confident ceasefire will happen; Israeli cabinet to convene on Friday morning to ratify the dealThe devastating impact of 15 months of war on GazaHow Trump loomed over Gaza ceasefire negotiationsKey mediator Qatar said that 33 hostages held by Hamas in Gaza would be released in the first stage of a ceasefire deal aimed at ending the war in the Palestinian territory.Israel earlier said it would release about 1,000 Palestinian prisoners in the first stage of a Gaza truce agreement, Israeli and Palestinian sources reported Tuesday. Continue reading...

Politics

7 hours ago Surge in households getting heat pumps, but numbers still fall short of target

The number of heat pumps being installed jumped 43% last year, as small-scale renewables reached record highs, figures show.

Society

6 hours ago House sales, prices and buyer inquiries up in December, surveyors report shows

'The signals from the survey around expectations over the next 12 months also remain solidly positive for now'

Economics

5 hours ago West Ham open to Luis Guilherme exit amid transfer interest from Saudi Pro League

Brazilian wonderkid could depart as Hammers plot move for new forward

Sport

2 hours ago ITV Emmerdale fans rumble 'secret serial killer' as first death of 2025 confirmed

Fans believe they've found a secret killer amongst the residents of the Dales

Events

24 hours ago ‘Homecoming’ show for artist Frank Auerbach to be held at Berlin gallery

Exclusive: First show of figurative painter’s work to be displayed in city he fled in 1939 to escape Nazi regimeFrank Auerbach is to be the subject of what has been billed as a homecoming show in Berlin, at which some of his final paintings will be displayed in the city he fled as a child.Auerbach, who died in November last year, never had a show in the city of his birth, which he left due to persecution by the Nazis. Both of his parents were later killed in Auschwitz. Continue reading...

Culture

30 hours ago A twist of Lime: Timothée Chalamet rode a rental bike on to the red carpet. But how long had he been in the saddle?

The actor’s choice of transportation to the premiere of A Complete Unknown give him a fresh everyman spin. Yet there was a distinct lack of puddle to his trousersLast night, at the London premiere of A Complete Unknown, Timothée Chalamet defied convention by turning up on a Lime bike. He rode the bike on to the red carpet, ended the ride on his phone and then carried on with the rest of the premiere as if nothing had happened. What a man.You can tell a lot about someone by the way in which they arrive at their own film premiere. The default is to arrive in a limo, looking beautiful with someone of equal beauty in tow, as a demonstration of status. Sometimes a star will bring their mother as a date – as Henry Cavill did to the premiere of The Witcher a few years ago – when they want to project an image of cosy, relatable approachability. Then there are those who will lean into the premiere as an opportunity to redefine their own personal brand, as Ryan Gosling did when he turned up t...

Transport

1 hour ago Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii is an early contender for 2025’s silliest game

The latest in the Like a Dragon series of Japanese crime drama is taking an improbably nautical turn – but its makers want you to know that it’s still got heartIn May last year, an anonymous forum poster shared details of what they claimed would be the next game in the Like a Dragon series, the Japanese gangster drama with a unique spirit of melodrama and ridiculousness. It would star the series’ most theatrical, violent villain, Goro “Mad Dog” Majima, as a pirate with amnesia, and it was called Project Madlantis. This leak went under the radar, quite possibly because it sounded so silly that nobody would believe it. But then, at 2024’s Tokyo Game Show in September, Sega surprised everyone by announcing exactly this. It is called Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii. That’s it. That’s the game.Madlantis sounds like a theme night at a noughties student bar, but is in fact the game’s pirate hub, a nautical Vegas where captains battle and bet on each other in coliseum face-offs. Ships are outfitted...

Politics

28 hours ago How to live longer and healthier: Lessons from Korea with Michelle Bang

Discover the secrets to living a longer, healthier, and happier life, inspired by the traditions of the world’s longevity capital.

Society

7 hours ago Flights from Southend to Newquay launch just in time for Brits' summer holidays... but Cornish locals complain they're getting the rough end of the deal

London Southend Airport announced on Monday that daily flights to Newquay, Cornwall will commence from April 2025 with airline partner, Eastern Airways.

Economics

7 hours ago Manchester United set transfer demand for Alejandro Garnacho to Napoli based on Khvicha Kvaratskhelia’s fee

The 20-year-old as been identified as a replacement for the Georgian, who has just joined PSG

Sport

2 hours ago LA wildfires live updates: Winds subside allowing crews to make progress on containing blazes

Winds speeds are expected to drop on Thursday, but officials warn threats remain in Los Angeles

Events

27 hours ago Marriage equality and a giant weather vane: photos of the day – Wednesday

The Guardian’s picture editors select photographs from around the world Continue reading...

Culture

1 hour ago They followed the rules to enter the US. Now Trump wants to deport them

Fleeing the regime in Venezuela, a couple scored one of the few appointments to apply for asylum via the CBP One app but the president-elect has warned: ‘Get ready to leave’Jorge Luis Jiménez and his wife did exactly what the US government asked of them when they spent months trying over and over again to get an appointment to cross the border, after risking everything to flee Venezuela.Now they may be easy targets in Donald Trump’s anti-immigration crackdown – despite living and working legally in the US. Continue reading...

Politics

31 hours ago I’m a climate scientist and my house in LA burned down. My work has never been more real

I feel like I am safe in saying that we are not thriving on our changing planet – and we will not in the coming decadesMy house in Altadena burned down in the wildfires on Wednesday. It all happened quickly. On Tuesday around 7pm, my wife and daughters went to a hotel as a precaution. I left the house with the dogs when the mandatory evacuation order came in around 3am. As best as I can put the timeline together, our home burned down around the same time that the sun came up, and I was able to drive in and see the damage around 2pm.Neighbors that went in after said it looked like a “war zone”. I have never been in a war zone thankfully, but I didn’t think so. There was nothing violent or chaotic about it. No one stopped me from driving in. There were no sirens. I stood alone – no one else around – in front of my house that was at that point just a fireplace and chimney. The house across the street was about halfway done with burning down, and the house behind ours had just started t...

Society

7 hours ago Millions of Brits will run out of cash in days as we're 'stretched to the limits'

The gap between December and January payday is a notoriously long one, with nearly two in five (37%) expected to completely run out of money before payday arrives

Economics

7 hours ago Karim Benzema's stance on Arsenal transfer as Rio Ferdinand issues Mikel Arteta demand

Rio Ferdinand has urged Arsenal to pursue a loan move for Karim Benzema in an effort to solve their struggles in front of goal - with the former Real Madrid man underlining his desire to keep on playing

Sport

2 hours ago Man and his dog rescued after falling in ice at Lake Waban in Massachusetts

A man and his dog were rescued from the icy Lake Waban in Wellesley, Massachusetts on Sunday, January 12th, 2025 at 4:55 pm.

Events

40 hours ago Strictly Come Dancing viewing figures fall short as The Traitors becomes the BBC's most watched reality TV show in ratings war

Strictly Come Dancing viewing figures has fallen short as The Traitors have become the BBC's most watched reality TV show.

Culture

1 hour ago I can’t believe it’s not denim: how fashion fell in love with fake jeans

Jeans are a classic, but aren’t always the most comfortable thing to wear. Is that why designers have started ‘faking’ them?Those of us who wear jeans tend to do so for the following reasons: they’re durable, versatile, and timeless. But when it comes to comfort, well, that is usually more of a rare quality. Who doesn’t own a pair of jeans that are difficult to sit down in? But now, a new jean is challenging this tradition – meet the jean-printed sweatpant.Gap’s £60 “jean joggers” look like a pair of loose-fitting jeans complete with five pockets, but are in fact cotton joggers with a hidden elasticated waist and faux fly. Gap describes them as “jean adjacent.” Similar to fake news, they’ve quickly gone viral. Continue reading...

Politics

31 hours ago I’m a climate scientist and my house in LA burned down. My work has never been more real | Benjamin Hamlington

I feel like I am safe in saying that we are not thriving on our changing planet – and we will not in the coming decadesMy house in Altadena burned down in the wildfires on Wednesday. It all happened quickly. On Tuesday around 7pm, my wife and daughters went to a hotel as a precaution. I left the house with the dogs when the mandatory evacuation order came in around 3am. As best as I can put the timeline together, our home burned down around the same time that the sun came up, and I was able to drive in and see the damage around 2pm.Neighbors that went in after said it looked like a “war zone”. I have never been in a war zone thankfully, but I didn’t think so. There was nothing violent or chaotic about it. No one stopped me from driving in. There were no sirens. I stood alone – no one else around – in front of my house that was at that point just a fireplace and chimney. The house across the street was about halfway done with burning down, and the house behind ours had just started t...

Society

8 hours ago Lenders expect mortgage demand to shrink in early 2025, Bank of England finds

The latest survey findings point to the financial strain on households against a backdrop of continued inflationary pressures, one expert said.

Economics

13 hours ago Transfer news LIVE: Napoli eye Man Utd star, Arsenal want Vlahovic, Zubimendi latest

Arsenal are looking to sign a striker after Gabriel Jesus suffered an ACL injury, Marcus Rashford is set to leave Manchester United and Liverpool are expected to keep hold of Trent Alexander-Arnold for at least the rest of the season

Sport

2 hours ago Fleeing mountain lions and scorched earth: can wildlife survive California’s wildfires?

The fires have been devastating for humans and taken a toll on nature, but many of California’s ecosystems will be able to regenerateBeth Pratt has spent her career protecting Los Angeles’ mountain lions, which roam an area currently engulfed by wildfires. These apex predators, also known as cougars or pumas, share a scrubby landscape with lavish private homes and a dense network of roads. When major fires take out huge areas of open space, their options are limited.“This is the LA area – these mountain lions can’t move into the Kardashians’ back yard,” says Pratt, California executive director for the National Wildlife Federation. “My heart is very heavy right now,” she says. Continue reading...

Events

1 hour ago Like A Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii lets Majima go Mad Dog on land and sea

Despite having no idea what to expect with Like A Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii, I found myself absolutely enthralled throughout – read my preview to find out why

Politics

37 hours ago Parental mental health biggest cause of child protection referrals in England

Public service cuts and ‘stark impact of poverty’ are causing worse outcomes for children, according to surveyPoor parental mental health has overtaken domestic violence as the most commonly reported factor in social worker assessments into whether a child is at risk of serious harm or neglect, according to new research.Growing rates of mental illness – in both parents and children – were an increasingly important driver of child safeguarding interventions in England, the latest comprehensive survey of children’s social care pressures found.In the UK and Ireland, Samaritans can be contacted on freephone 116 123, or email jo@samaritans.org or jo@samaritans.ie. In the US, you can call or text the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline on 988, chat on 988lifeline.org, or text HOME to 741741 to connect with a crisis counselor. In Australia, the crisis support service Lifeline is 13 11 14. Other international helplines can be found at befrienders.org Continue reading...

Society

9 hours ago January 2025 payment dates for benefits and pensions as DWP to launch disability consultation

All the essential cost of living information you need

Economics

19 hours ago After the ennui and angst, Arsenal keep Premier League title race alive | Barney Ronay

Hosts played with a concentrated spirit in north London derby and were good value for their 2-1 defeat of TottenhamMaybe the world isn’t ending after all. Or at least, not yet anyway. For Arsenal, and indeed the Premier League, the title race is still alive, still twitching, like a dog kicking out in its sleep wondering whether to wake up.The past week has felt like a point of crisis for Mikel Arteta’s team, with cup defeats, points dropped, the attack and midfield gripped with a kind of ennui football. Certainly the energy around this team can often seem manic, overly low then overly high. Continue reading...

Sport

3 hours ago Everton’s plan to cut short Armando Broja loan hits hitch with Chelsea

Chelsea ask for total loan cost to be paid before returnStriker is injured and set to miss most of rest of season Everton’s attempt to cut short Armando Broja’s loan has hit complications with Chelsea wanting compensation to take the striker back.David Moyes, the new Everton manager, confirmed his club were exploring the possibility of terminating Broja’s season-long loan after he was ruled out for 10 to 12 weeks with ankle ligament damage. Everton have used their full allocation of four loan signings this season and, with profitability and sustainability rules restricting their January budget, want to create space for another temporary transfer. Continue reading...

Events

2 hours ago Australian Open: US qualifier Learner Tien stuns Daniil Medvedev in five

World No 121 beats No 5 seed 6-3, 7-6, 6-7, 1-6, 7-6Californian seals victory just before 3am in MelbourneLearner Tien, a 19-year-old qualifier from California, became the youngest American man to reach the Australian Open’s third round since Pete Sampras in 1990, upsetting a racket-tossing Daniil Medvedev 6-3, 7-6, 6-7, 1-6, 7-6 in a thrilling contest that began on Thursday night and ended in the wee hours of Friday in Melbourne.The four-hour, 49-minute match had a bit of everything, including a six-minute rain delay that interrupted play shortly before 2.30am with Tien serving at 5-5 in the fifth set. When play resumed, Medvedev broke and served for the match at 6-5, but Tien refused to cede, broke back, and forced the concluding first-to-10 tiebreaker, which he emerged to win shortly before 3am. His victory came about two hours after he had failed to convert his initial match point. Continue reading...

Politics

9 hours ago Interest rates 'to be cut within weeks' as weak GDP figures deal new blow to Labour Chancellor Rachel Reeves

The Bank of England’s Monetary Policy Committee is expected to cut interest rates in early February

Economics

20 hours ago Arsenal reignite title bid after Trossard completes fightback against Spurs

Arsenal could feel the heat. Back-to-back home losses in the domestic cups had seen to that. One has pushed them to the brink of elimination in the Carabao Cup, ahead of the semi-final second leg at Newcastle. The other on penalties against Manchester United in the FA Cup was terminal.Mikel Arteta’s team could also sense opportunity. Liverpool’s draw at Nottingham Forest had seen to that. And so the equation was pretty clear. Manage the occasion against the team they most love to hate. And win to move to within four points of Liverpool at the top, albeit having played an extra game. Continue reading...

Sport

3 hours ago London Marathon 2025: Eilish McColgan to make debut after injury before 2023 event

London Marathon 2025: Eilish McColgan to make debut after injury before 2023 event  BBC.com

Events

2 hours ago Seth Meyers on Pete Hegseth’s confirmation hearing: ‘A test to see how loyal Republicans will be’

Late-night hosts discuss the many allegations facing Trump’s Pentagon pick and Michelle Obama’s plan to skip the president-elect’s inaugurationLate-night hosts talk Donald Trump’s inauguration guests and Pete Hegseth’s contentious Senate confirmation hearing for secretary of defense. Continue reading...

Politics

9 hours ago Taylor Wimpey cautions over rising construction costs amid ‘uncertain’ market

The developer nonetheless said it was beginning 2025 on stronger footing thanks to an uptick in sales over the second half of last year.

Economics

20 hours ago Arsenal vs Tottenham LIVE! Premier League result, match stream and latest updates today

Gunners put recent cup defeats behind them

Sport

3 hours ago Wendy Williams speaks out against guardianship in rare interview: ‘I feel like I’m in prison’

TV host claims in Breakfast Club interview she is experiencing ‘emotional abuse’ after entering care facilityWendy Williams has spoken out about her court-mandated guardianship in a rare interview on Thursday morning, saying that it makes her “feel like I’m in prison”.The longtime TV host and personality called into the popular Breakfast Club radio show for an interview, in which she discussed her current situation living in a care facility. Williams has largely been out of the public eye since 2021. Continue reading...

Events

2 hours ago Democrats concerned after Mike Johnson fires top Republican from House committee reportedly at Trump’s request – live

House speaker removed intelligence committee chair Mike Turner, whose stances have run afoul with TrumpThe Republican governor of Florida, Ron DeSantis, has named the state’s attorney general, Ashley Moody, to the Senate seat being vacated by Marco Rubio.Donald Trump has nominated Rubio to serve as secretary of state, and he likely has the support he needs to win Senate confirmation. Moody has served as Florida’s attorney general since 2019, and will serve until at least 2026, when her Senate seat will be on the general election ballot. Continue reading...

Politics

9 hours ago This Gaza ceasefire deal is a fragile thing, beset by strongman egos. But it is our best hope yet | Simon Tisdall

Netanyahu, with Trump waiting in the wings, has no interest in lasting peace. From these beginnings must come political change – and a reckoning At last! The yearned-for Israel-Hamas ceasefire-for-hostages deal is finally happening. It is welcome. Like thin ice covering deep waters, it is scarily fragile, prone to crack under the slightest pressure. And it is desperately, lethally overdue. Tens of thousands of Palestinians, and many Israelis, have died since last May, when US president Joe Biden first set out the parameters of this agreement. Civilians are still being killed in Israeli airstrikes that have actually intensified since the two sides grudgingly initialled the deal in Qatar.Palestinians in Gaza and elsewhere are naturally relieved these merciless Israeli bombardments will soon stop. But celebrations are tempered by fears about the future, and by deep grief and anger over the still terrifying present and immediate past. According to Gaza health ministry figures, more than...

Economics

22 hours ago Arsenal vs Tottenham LIVE! Premier League match stream, latest score and goal updates today

Gunners can close the gap to Liverpool to just four points

Sport

3 hours ago Suchir Balaji’s family demand outside investigation into OpenAI whistleblower’s death

Police in San Francisco previously ruled Balaji’s death a suicide and stated there was no evidence of foul play

Events

2 hours ago Celtic Connections 2025: Here are 10 great gigs you can still get tickets for

The winter festival gets underway this week - but it’s not too late to get involved.

Politics

10 hours ago 5 Liverpool transfers that could still be completed in January including £30m deal

Liverpool are not expected to be busy singing players this month but there could still be business done at Anfield in the January transfer window

Economics

22 hours ago Carrie Bradshaw’s famed Sex and the City stoop to get gate to stop fans gathering

Owner of the iconic West Village building said fans of the TV show and films have disturbed her and her tenants for yearsAnd just like that, Sex and the City enthusiasts may no longer be able to stand on the steps of character Carrie Bradshaw’s famous Manhattan home after its owner asked city officials to let her block them with an iron gate.The move follows years of fans of the show and spinoff movies crowding around – and at times trespassing on – the stoop of the iconic brownstone in the city’s trendy West Village neighborhood, which served as the exterior of Bradshaw’s apartment, the lead in the hit HBO series played by Sarah Jessica Parker. Continue reading...

Sport

3 hours ago ‘A ton of unknowns’: months ago, LA residents lost wildfire insurance. Then the fires came

After insurers like State Farm dropped policies, to switch to the state’s Fair plan was prohibitively pricey for manyWhen James Borow realized last Tuesday that his Palisades house was on fire, he was 300 miles away in Las Vegas at the Consumer Electronics Show. The power was out at his house but a friend suggested he remotely turn on his Tesla and see if the cameras showed anything.From the car camera, he watched in a panic as his house burned. As he drove home from Vegas to LA, he called his parents and told them: “You’ll see it on the news tomorrow, but the house is totally gone. I just watched it.” Continue reading...

Events

2 hours ago UK train journey topping Lonely Planet's 2025 travel bucket list is a 'near secret'

The highly revered authority in global travel has also revealed its top 10 travel trends, one of which is expected to be the humble art of train hopping.

Politics

11 hours ago A 100% tax on Brits buying homes in Spain sounds satisfying – but it won’t solve our housing crisis | María Ramírez

Making visitors pay more may bolster Treasury revenues, but it’s no match for building more housesLast October, tens of thousands of people marched through Madrid, Barcelona, Valencia and other big Spanish cities demanding affordable housing. Protesters jingled keys to make noise, held signs denouncing “speculators”, and threatened a “rent strike” while calling for action from national and local politicians. They had good reason to be angry.Housing has become the most pressing concern for Spaniards, according to a December survey by the national polling centre, ranking higher than unemployment and migration. Look at the statistics and it’s clear why. The cost of renting in cities rose by around 30% between 2015 and 2022, forcing young workers to move to the outskirts of Madrid and Barcelona or settle for tiny, often barely habitable flats. In popular tourist regions like Valencia, Alicante and Málaga, rents have surged by 40%. For workers in the Balearic Islands, a commute by plane ...

Economics

25 hours ago Arsenal vs Tottenham LIVE! Premier League match stream, latest team news, lineups, TV, prediction today

Spurs have one Premier League win away at Arsenal since 1993

Sport

4 hours ago Australian Open LIVE: Furious Daniil Medvedev battles qualifier Learner Tien, Emma Raducanu issues injury update

Raducanu set up a clash with Iga Swiatek but battled through more injury worries in her win over Amanda Anisimova

Events

2 hours ago ‘Everything we were taught about success is wrong’: how to find true fulfilment in your life and career

Made good life choices yet still feel dissatisfied? A life coach suggests an alternative way to look at our goals and aspirations to find more positive outcomesAuthor Annie Dillard wrote that “how we spend our days is, of course, how we spend our lives”. So, how was it that I spent a large portion of my 20s ­ terrified of the big, long life I had before me? After Stanford University, I’d moved to New York to work at Google but I was depressed, anxious.When I realised that many brilliant and accomplished people were also secretly miserable, just trying to make it through the day, I looked for terminology to describe this, but there was none. So I came up with my own: the underfulfilled overachiever, or UFOA. This describes a constant striver who is living a great‑­on‑­paper life, yet feels disconnected from their work, life and self. UFOAs see success as the organising principle of our lives. We call it by a catchy name: hustle culture. We brag about our intense busyness. Side hustle...

Politics

12 hours ago Liz Truss is long gone from Downing Street – but zombie economics lives on | Aditya Chakrabortty

Labour’s panicked reaction to turbulence is to promise ‘ruthless’ cuts. It has learned the wrong lessons from Britain’s shortest-lived PMBritain’s centre of power is stalked by a zombie. Across Westminster, the mere mention of her name summons up a grim past, but she remains ever present: blond bob, eyes that never move and a grin slightly aslant so it expresses not mirth, but faint menace. When least expected, she can bark a laugh that sends shivers up a cabinet minister’s spine. And whenever her shadow looms in SW1, the dread murmur starts: she used to be prime minister, you know.Liz Truss’s stint at the top of politics ended years ago. Perhaps close confidants and trained medics are yet to break the news, but for her, power is a fading memory, a shrinking image in the rear-view. As the voters of South West Norfolk ensured last July, she is now an ex-politician. Yet in British political culture, she is the great undead. No other prime minister since the Brexit vote so haunts curre...

Economics

31 hours ago Chris Eubank Jr vs Conor Benn finally confirmed in huge fight for British boxing

Fighters set to follow in footsteps of famous fathers

Sport

4 hours ago California wildfires: easing of extreme winds expected to strengthen efforts to put out blazes

National Weather Service says ‘wind siege has finally ended’ and forecasts higher humidity but warns high winds could return next weekThe extreme winds behind the disastrous fires in Los Angeles are forecasted to calm the rest of the week into the weekend, making it easier for firefighters to further efforts to put out the massive Palisades and Eaton fires that have been ablaze for over a week.The National Weather Service said on Thursday that the “nine-day wind siege has finally ended” and the weekend will bring a “significant cooling trend” with higher humidity in the region. But it warned that high winds could pick up again early next week. Continue reading...

Events

2 hours ago Bathgate MP uses Prime Minister’s Questions to demand action on ‘dental deserts’

Bathgate and Linlithgow MP Kirsteen Sullivan called on the Prime Minister to tackle the growing problem of dental deserts and ensure local NHS dentistry is accessible to all communities across the UK.

Politics

12 hours ago Economic growth could fall 50% over 20 years from climate shocks, say actuaries

Exclusive: Report by risk experts says previous assessments ignored severe effects of climate crisisGlobal economic growth could plummet by 50% between 2070 and 2090 from the catastrophic shocks of climate change unless immediate action by political leaders is taken to decarbonise and restore nature, according to a new report.The stark warning from risk management experts the Institute and Faculty of Actuaries (IFoA) hugely increases the estimate of risk to global economic wellbeing from climate change impacts such as fires, flooding, droughts, temperature rises and nature breakdown. In a report with scientists at the University of Exeter, published on Thursday, the IFoA, which uses maths and statistics to analyse financial risk for businesses and governments, called for accelerated action by political leaders to tackle the climate crisis. Continue reading...

Economics

31 hours ago Football transfer rumours: Vlahovic to solve Arsenal’s striker problem?

Today’s fluff has a thousand-yard stareAs the fallout from Arsenal’s absurdly wasteful FA Cup defeat to Manchester United – and Gabriel Jesus’s season-ending injury – rolls on, the gossip machine has gone into overdrive trying to identify someone who can put away their chances. While Benjamin Sesko is the name on everyone’s lips, it wouldn’t be a transfer window without them being linked with Dusan Vlahovic.The tea in Italy is that Juventus are willing to cash in their chips. The Serbia striker’s contract runs to 2026 and negotiations are apparently at a standstill, meaning the Bianconeri have limited opportunities to recoup their investment, and with Randal Kolo Muani on his way from Paris Saint-Germain they have a ready-made replacement, so it all makes sense, possibly. Continue reading...

Sport

4 hours ago Pope Francis, 88, is injured in fall weeks after bruising his chin in another stumble

The Holy See press office said in a statement: 'This morning, due to a fall at the Santa Marta house, Pope Francis suffered a contusion on his right forearm, without fractures.'

Events

3 hours ago Elon Musk makes job offer to all coders on X here's what you can expect

Elon Musk took to his own platform to search for 'hardcore software engineers to help develop the Everything App. But what does it take to be an employee of the richest man on earth?

Politics

12 hours ago Global economy could face 50% loss in GDP between 2070 and 2090 from climate shocks, say actuaries

Exclusive: Report by risk experts says previous assessments ignored severe effects of climate crisisThe global economy could face 50% loss in gross domestic product (GDP) between 2070 and 2090 from the catastrophic shocks of climate change unless immediate action by political leaders is taken to decarbonise and restore nature, according to a new report.The stark warning from risk management experts the Institute and Faculty of Actuaries (IFoA) hugely increases the estimate of risk to global economic wellbeing from climate change impacts such as fires, flooding, droughts, temperature rises and nature breakdown. In a report with scientists at the University of Exeter, published on Thursday, the IFoA, which uses maths and statistics to analyse financial risk for businesses and governments, called for accelerated action by political leaders to tackle the climate crisis.This article was amended on 16 January 2025. The headline of an earlier version said that economic growth could fall by...

Economics

31 hours ago Arsenal star tipped to leave if Martin Zubimendi joins in 'key' transfer mistake

Mikel Arteta is expected to land his dream signing, which may spell the end for another

Sport

4 hours ago From ‘The Brutalist' to 'Wicked,' where to watch this year’s top awards movies

The 2025 movie awards season is in full swing but figuring out where to watch everything can be overwhelming

Events

3 hours ago Blue Monday: How to use music to beat Blue Monday 2025 and boost your mood

How singing with friends and a spot of classical music can help you through 2025’s Blue Monday 🎶🤦 ♂️🎺

Politics

18 hours ago A ceasefire deal is here. For Gaza, the Middle East and the world, the future remains unknown

The sacrifice has been so great, the misery so complete, that few can claim with certainty that this was all worthwhileThere may be no winners in war, but history suggests combatants are often eager to convince the world otherwise.The ending of the 15-month conflict in Gaza may prove an exception. The sacrifice has been so great, the misery so complete, and the ultimate future for Gaza so uncertain that few can claim with certainty that this was all worthwhile, or likely to benefit Israel’s security in the long term. The damage to Israel’s reputation may last decades. Continue reading...

Economics

31 hours ago Arsenal transfers news: Huge signing expected after offer for forward is snubbed

Arsenal are in desperate need of a new forward following Gabriel Jesus' injury lay-off but the Gunners have seen a first bid rejected for a top target

Sport

4 hours ago ‘A flood of disinformation’: rumors and lies abound amid ongoing LA wildfires

Disasters have long led to misinformation as people grasp for control, but the consequences can be life and deathThe Hollywood sign was not on fire. Firefighters weren’t using women’s purses to put out fires. A fish is not responsible for the blazes. The Los Angeles fire department didn’t see big budget cuts. The fires were not started deliberately as some kind of mass plot related to high-speed rail or the 2028 Olympics. Firefighting efforts did not include spraying a mood stabilizer into the air to put locals into a trance. Diversity measures are not to blame.Fires are still burning in Los Angeles, and with them has come a near-constant stream of rumors, half-truths, conspiracy theories and outright lies. Natural disasters have long led to the spread of misinformation as people try to make sense of destruction and grasp for control when the world around them is destroyed. In the aftermath of the disaster, a lot is still unknown: what caused it, what could have prevented it, who co...

Events

3 hours ago Lock them up! The controversial classic movie romances that would get the main characters cancelled today

Plenty of on-screen relationships that once hooked in cinema fans would almost certainly be left on the cutting room floor in 2025.

Politics

18 hours ago House sales, prices and buyer inquiries increased in December – surveyors

Signals around housing market expectations for the next 12 months ‘remain solidly positive for now,’ surveyors reported.

Economics

32 hours ago The Spin | South Africa in the Test Championship final should be celebrated not belittled

Claim the Proteas got there ‘on the back of beating pretty much nobody’ shows lack of respect for their achievementsSouth Africans were still celebrating their side’s passage into the World Test Championship final, secured after the fast bowler Kagiso Rabada cosplayed as Brian Lara in a nerve-jangling two-wicket win against Pakistan, when Michael Vaughan sought to pour cold water over the parade.Speaking on Fox Cricket the former England captain, who left his post in 2008 after losing a home series against South Africa, declared that the Proteas got to the final “on the back of beating pretty much nobody”. He said Temba Bavuma’s team didn’t “warrant being in the World Test Championship final with whom they have played over the last two years”. Continue reading...

Sport

4 hours ago A Sydney ban on skimpy swimmers is not new. ‘Bikini wars’ have been raging in Australia for a century

Until the 1900s daylight beach swimming was forbidden and women were expected to wear pants in the waterGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastWhen Bettine Baker was ordered to leave Bondi beach because of her skimpy swimwear, she couldn’t help but scoff.“The whole business is so old-fashioned and narrow-minded that it’s not even funny,” the 20-year-old said.Sign up for Guardian Australia’s breaking news email Continue reading...

Events

3 hours ago 'I'm a fashion writer and Nobody's Child new edit nails the colour of the year trend'

Following the announcement of Pantone's 2025 Colour of the Year, Mocha Mousse has been dominating the high street and these are our favourite pieces from Nobody's Child

Politics

22 hours ago Chelsea hope for financial deal with Premier League over secret transfer payments

Current owners discovered irregularities during takeoverSources confident Chelsea will avoid points deductionChelsea are negotiating with the Premier League over a financial settlement related to secret payments for transfers made during Roman Abramovich’s ownership.A financial settlement is seen as the likeliest outcome as the club’s current owners, Todd Boehly and Clearlake Capital, discovered the irregularities during the takeover process in May 2022 and reported them to the Premier League and Uefa. Continue reading...

Economics

33 hours ago Scottish golfer links up with top coach and also hires legendary looper

Grant Forrest starts out in 2025 with 148 years of experience at his disposal

Sport

4 hours ago 2024 witnessed ‘absolute failure’ of west to lead fight for human rights, says watchdog

Leading democracies have stood by while allies have committed atrocities or supported perpetrators, Human Rights Watch chief says ahead of annual World ReportThe past year has marked the “absolute failure” of western democracies as champions of human rights around the world, the head of Human Rights Watch (HRW) has said.Tirana Hassan lambasted western capitals for their double standards over the course of 2024 and what she said was the abdication of their claim to leadership on global human rights. Continue reading...

Events